Children's Book of Christmas Stories, The

<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"></SPAN></p> <h2> XXV. THE FIRST CHRISTMAS-TREE </h2> <h3> BY LUCY WHEELOCK </h3> <p>Two little children were sitting by the fire one cold winter's night. All at once they heard a timid knock at the door and one ran to open it.</p> <p>There, outside in the cold and darkness, stood a child with no shoes upon his feet and clad in thin, ragged garments. He was shivering with cold, and he asked to come in and warm himself.</p> <p>"Yes, come in," cried both the children. "You shall have our place by the fire. Come in."</p> <p>They drew the little stranger to their warm seat and shared their supper with him, and gave him their bed, while they slept on a hard bench.</p> <p>In the night they were awakened by strains of sweet music, and looking out, they saw a band of children in shining garments, approaching the house. They were playing on golden harps and the air was full of melody.</p> <p>Suddenly the Strange Child stood before them: no longer cold and ragged, but clad in silvery light.</p> <p>His soft voice said: "I was cold and you took Me in. I was hungry and you fed Me. I was tired and you gave Me your bed. I am the Christ-Child, wandering through the world to bring peace and happiness to all good children. As you have given to Me, so may this tree every year give rich fruit to you."</p> <p>So saying, He broke a branch from the fir-tree that grew near the door, and He planted it in the ground and disappeared. And the branch grew into a great tree, and every year it bore wonderful fruit for the kind children.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />